The New Math: Love Mr. Bush, Support Our Troops, End the War in Iraq

For a nonviolent person, the whole world is one family. He will thus fear none, nor will others fear him.

                –Mahatma Gandhi–

Here’s the key: Break state, and elevate!

                –Gandhi Guy–

What does love have to do with working to end the war in Iraq? How is it possible to truly extend love to those who propagate this horrible war, and at the same time work toward it’s end as soon as possible?

I’ve come to believe that Gandhi showed us the way to do this, to be able to hold both realities in our hearts, minds, and in our actions. The paradox of loving those who are acting hurtfully, sometimes called ‘turning the other cheek’ is what Gandhi turned into an art. He mastered the ability to submit himself to the brutality of his oppressors, and inspired millions of others to do the same in South Africa, India, and later in the Civil Rights movement for Blacks in the United States, the Solidarity Movement in Czechoslavakia, the break-up of the old Soviet Union, and the end of Apartheid in South Africa led by Nelson Mandela.

There are many more examples, but one thing is clear: one sure way of ending war and injustice is to place oneself in the line of that injustice, along with thousands of others, and allow the hurt to fall onto you. Eventually, those who are performing the hurt will see the pain they are causing, and will stop. And then, they will become friends.

Gandhi wasn’t content with ending the rule of the British. He wanted to remain friends with those who perpetrated such misery on his people and his own self, and in that desire Gandhi raised himself and his movement for freedom above all others in modern history. Never before had someone sought to follow the teachings from the Sermon on the Mount story: "Love your enemy, do good to those who persecute you."  Gandhi took this to heart, and set a pattern that we can emulate as well.

Here’s an idea: Exxon reported this very week (2/4?2008) that they have made the highest profit for a fiscal quarter in human history, $44 Billion dollars! During regular years, one could look at that number, and the last few years’ profits which have set successive records for Exxon and other oil companies, and congratulate them. Happy shareholders, for sure!

But what we are failing to connect is the fact that these profits are being made during this grab for oil the the Bush Regime has made in Iraq, threatened to do in Iran, is working to pull off with the Trans-Afghani pipeline, and, to add more misery, these profits are being racked up with the highest prices ever seen for gasoline here in the U.S.

We used to have laws against this sort of thing, they were called War Profiteering Laws. Companies weren’t allowed to raise prices and make outrageous profits off the populace during a war-time effort.

So here’s my suggestion. Take back your own freedom regarding oil, gasoline and the control these unjust corporations are having over our daily lives. Strike a blow for freedom by choosing one day at least where you refuse to drive your car, refuse to buy gasoline, and if you have to drive that day, refuse to drive alone.

Make your life be the change you seek in the world. Pick a day, maybe Fridays like me, which I now call ‘Freedom Fridays’, and stop the war machine from making use of your hard-earned dollars.

Join me in ‘Freedom Fridays’. Make your voice heard at the gas pump this week, and every week!

In Peace,

Don